Prep the night before. If your bag is packed, your shoes are waiting, lunches are made and meals are planned, you're more likely to stick to your fitness program, says Kim Lavender, national director of team training at
GoodLife Fitness. She recommends that you treat fitness like an appointment you can't miss. Whether you prefer to get moving in the morning, at lunch or after work, make time for it in your schedule—and stick to it.

Buddy up. Find a workout partner or join a group so you'll be more inclined to take part.

- Learn to love the cold Don't let your
love of outdoor walking, running or biking drop along with the temperatures.

Warm up. Cold muscles are more likely to get injured, so you need a dynamic five- to 10-minute warm-up indoors to properly activate the muscles. Tricia Kawahara, certified strength and conditioning specialist at
Inspiration Training in Calgary, recommends incorporating moves such as low lunges with knee hugs, a lateral shuffle and dynamic toe touches to help you feel good before you head outside.

- Get cross-training A change in weather offers an opportunity to change your workout. Challenge yourself to a new activity to use different muscles and improve your performance in your regular sport or activity.

Switch it up. "Hang up those
running shoes and hook on the skis and snowshoes," says Kawahara. Snowshoe running, hiking and cross-country skiing are great ways to keep up your endurance while enjoying the winter and improving your cardiovascular health.

Head indoors. Work out at a gym to develop muscles you may have ignored with your summer fitness routine. "If you've spent the summer running," says Lavender, "make sure your hamstrings haven't become too tight, your quad strength hasn't overpowered your hamstrings and your glute power is still there."

Try yoga. If you're a runner in the warmer months, yoga can offer a chance to restore muscle balance in the winter, says Lavender. Plus, hot yoga offers steamy relief from the cold.

- Heat it up at home There's no reason you can't get
moving at your place. "There are tons of things you can do with very limited equipment and limited space that still reap the benefits of something more elaborate," says Lavender.
Designate a space for exercise or move some furniture out of the way when you want to work out at home.

Use an online video or an exercise DVD to help guide your workout. "Just ensure that you're trying something suited to your fitness level that's from a credible source," says Lavender.

- When to move it inside Extreme cold isn't worth the risk, so before you head out, have a look at the forecast. A strong wind chill causes your body heat to drop faster and can lead to frostbite or hypothermia. Follow this guide:

Beauty

Secret Santa gifts (you'll want to keep!) at every price

It should be easy, but sometimes finding a gift within a certain price range that is still thoughtful can be difficult. Let us help.

Finding the perfect Secret Santa gift is more difficult than it seems. First, if you're buying for someone specific, you want to gift to be thoughtful—but that can be difficult if you only have a limited budget. And that's the thing about the budget—you need the gift to be less than, but close to, your budget (whether it's self-imposed or part of a larger secret santa mandate). Plus, sometimes you don't know who your secret Santa is! And shopping for a mystery person means you need to get something that will appeal to pretty much everyone.

Secret Santa gifts (you'll want to keep!) at every price

Under $10

This item combines two of our favourite things—the Toronto Blue Jays and lapel pins! Not a sports fan? Luckily there are plenty of lapel pin options to make sure you find the right one for your giftee.

Contests

Our 60-Day Holiday Countdown Giveaway is on!

From November 2 to December 31, 2016, we're giving away weekly prizes (for a total value of over $15,000) as part of our 60-Day Holiday Countdown.

For easy access to our weekly prizes, sign up for our 60-Day Holiday Countdown newsletters and you'll receive a daily email featuring a link to enter that week's contest, along with Tested Till Perfect holiday recipes, awesome gift guides, DIY decor ideas and more. You can enter to win each prize once daily until each contest closes.

You can enter to win this week's prize below, and see past contests and winners.

Get crafty with these stylish (and free!) knitting patterns

Slideshow

Stylish knitting patterns for scarves, hats, bags and more

Alder headband knitting pattern

This Alpaca headband's soft, thick yarn and easy pattern make it a satisfying quick knit. The headband is designed using a simple two-by-two rib pattern with a unique twist. And it's so practical as an ear warmer, you might be tempted to make it in several winter colours.

Stylish knitting patterns for scarves, hats, bags and more

Sundew Hat pom-pom beanie

Quick to knit and extra-cozy, the Sundew Hat is the perfect cold-weather accessory. Whether you are looking to knit a thoughtful last-minute gift or your own quintessential hat, the Sundew Hat is a crowd-pleasing favourite with its classic design and soft texture.

Medallion Mittens

Stylish knitting patterns for scarves, hats, bags and more

Ellenesque Felted Bowl knitting pattern

The Ellenesque Bowls are a practical and stylish solution to all your storage needs. Knitting your own bowl is an easy way to create the perfect size vessel for any purpose, and you can choose from a variety of colour options in our Merino Copito yarn to match your home décor.

Stylish knitting patterns for scarves, hats, bags and more

Knit a stylish winter headband

On those cold, wintry days when you need something warm around your face, grab your knitting needles, hibernate for a weekend and knit up The Stone and Arrow Winter Set. Designed in bulky yarn, The Arrow Headband and The Stone Scarf come together in a snap.

Stylish knitting patterns for scarves, hats, bags and more

Stone Scarf knitting pattern

The Stone Scarf got its name from its 3D texture, created by alternating knits and purls, that resembles a stonewall. The quirky stone-like bumps are tempered by a garter-stitch border and a slipped selvedge for a tidy edge.